Steering-wheel pivot and pivot-bearing for automobiles.



110.885,111.l Y J. VOLLMER.

l STEERING WHEEL PIVOT AND PIVOT BEARING POR AUTOMOBILES. APPLIOATON FILED JUNI; zo. 1906.-

PATENTED APR. 21, 1908.

JOSEP VOLLMER, or BERLIN; GERMANY, AssIGNoR TO'GENERALELEOTRIO COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OP NEwjYOaK.

s'rnEnrNG-wnnnr. Prvo'fi` AND PIVOT-BEARING VFoa AUroMoBrLns.

Y Speeimtionoil-Letters Patent.

Patented April 21, 1908.

' Application nien-June 2o, isos. serial Nq. 322,592.

To all whom it may concern: t

Be it known that I, JOSEF VOLLMER, a subject of the Grand Duke" of Baden, Germany, residing at Berlin, Germany,'have invented certain newy and useful Im rovements in Steering-Wheel Pivots and `for Automobiles, of which the following is a specication. This invention relates to automobiles and l0l Similar vehicles, and its object isto improve the construction of the steering wheel pivots tnd pivot bearings which are carried .by the forks at the ends of the stationary front axle to secure a uniform distribution of the weight upon the up er and lower 1jliivotbearings; to prevent the alling out of t e pivot when 4the axle is raised, or when for any other cause a steering wheel is deprived of lthe support of the roadway; to secure lubrication ofthe bearings and to provide `for'the ready removal `of hhe pivots when necessary.

In the accompanying drawing W ich repre- Isents one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure'l is an elevation, with parts in section, of an axlefork with the steering wheel pivot mounted therein; and Fig. 2 is a l sectional view of the lower pivot bearing with its arts separated.

he steering wheels may be of ordinary construction, andv eachis mounted upon a short axle`1 of usualform which is carried by the upright ivot 2,- mounted at its ends in bearin sin t e fork 3 of the stationary front 'axle o the vehicle. A lever of the usual .35 type shown in dotted lines is .secured to the -pivot 2 and connected with the steering mechanism to communicate the necessary turning movements to the steerin Wheel.

, The lower end of. the pivot 2. as formed 40 thereon or lsuitably secured thereto a plurality of thrust collars 4, two such collarsbeing shown, but the number may be varied to secure the necessary area called for by the Weight tobe supported. These thrust col- ,45x lars engage grooves in the divided thrust bearin 5, formed of separable arts, Fig. 2,

and a justably secured in the ower branch of the fork 3. The bearing 5 has external screw threads which engage corresponding Se threads in the end of the fork and has a projection 6 of hexagonal or other form suitable for. receiving a wrench for adjusting the bearing; The end of the lowerbr-fuich of the l fork v'is slotted at 7, and a bolt ,8 passes through the two lugs thus formed. By

ivot-Bearings means of this bolt the bearing' may be clamped in position after adjustment.

The upper branch of the fork carries a shell bearing 9, having a conical seat in said branch. This bearing has a collar or flange 10 at its lower end which bears against a shoulder' formed on the u per vend of the pivot and constitutes the t rust bearing at this end. An annular part 11 which may be integral with the pivot or se aratetherefrom, projects upward from the s oulder and surrounds the flange v10, thus forming a cupshaped receptacle or reservoir for lubricant which kee s the upper thrust bearing' con-I stantly lubricated; the lubricant being admitted through a suitable opening. VThe end of the fork is recessed toreceive the part 11 and protect the bearing from dust.

The structure just described provides an internal, well rotected bearing wherein the 7'5l lubrication vwi l'be maintained at all times i "making the steering of the vehicle much e.

easierthan inthose arings where'a bolt or pivot asses directly throu h the fork, and the lu ricant flows away a most` assoon as it is applied.

The grooves in the bearing 5 which receive the thrust collars 4 retain the lubricant for that bearing, and also prevent the pivot from falling out when the wheel is not supported by the roadway. This bearing is protected from dust by the annular portion A12 of the-pivot chambered out to receive the projection 13 upon the top of said` bearing.

When the pivot is to be removed the clamp bolt Sis unscrewed to release thebearing 5. The bearing is then unscrewed and the pivot lowered with it until the separable parts of the bearing .may be drawn away vfrom the thrust collars, and the pivot Withdrawn from the fork. The diameters of the, lower portion of the pivot are so muchl smaller than the hole in the lower branch of the fork as to make the removal possible.'

The uniform distributionupon the upper and lower thrust bearings of the Weight to be carried by the wheel 'is secured by releasing the clam ing bolt 8 and adjusting the bearing 5. en the desired adjustment is obtamed the clamping bolt is screwed up to hold the parts in Yproper relation.

This type qof pivot and pivot bearings also makes possible a lowspeclc pressure on the large, well lubricated bearing surfaces thus limlting and reducing the Wear, causing a'110.

continuous and certain operation of the parts l and avoiding damage from pounding due to shocks to which the vehicle is subjected in its operation.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to representJ the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the inventioh can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. The combination with a steeringr wheel pivot, of an axle fork having an upper bearing for the pivot, a removable lower bearing therefor which is divided to permit the removal of the pivot, and means for adjusting one of said bearings to secure a uniform distribution of the weight-upon the bearings.

2. The combination with a steering wheel pivot, of an axle fork having upper and lower bearings for the pivot, the lower bearing being grooved, thrust collars on the pivot engaging the grooves and preventing the pivot from falling out, and'means for adjusting one of said bearings to secure uniform distribution of the weight upon the bearings.

3. The combination with an axle fork, of a steering wheel pivot, thrust collars on the pivot, a bearing in the fork for the upper end of the pivot, a longitudinally divided, separable bearing for the lower end of the pivot mounted in the fork and having grooves to receive the thrust collars, and means for adjusting the lower bearing to secure a uniform distribution of the weight upon said bearings;

4. The combination with an axle fork, of a steering wheel pivot, thrust collars on the pivot, a bearing in the fork for the upper end of the pivot, a` longitudinally divided, separable bearing for the lower end of the pivot mounted in the fork and having grooves to receive the thrust collars, means for adjusting the lower bearing to secure a uniform dis- I tribution of the weight upon the bearings, and a device for securing the lower bearing in its adjusted position.

5. The combination of a steering wheel lower bearing,

pivot, a thrust bearing for the lower end of said pivot provided with grooves, thrust collars on the pivot engaging the grooves, a thrust bearing for the upper end of said pivot, and an oil reservoir surrounding the last named bearing to maintain a constant lubrication of said bearing.

6. The combination with an axle fork, of a steering wheel, pivot having a shoulder near its upper end, a bearing in the fork for the lower end of the pivot, a bearing for the uper end of the pivot mounted in the fork and liaving a flange at the lower endengaging the shoulder on the pivot, and an annular part carried by the pivot surrounding the flange and shoulder and forming a reservoir to supply lubricant to the bearing between the iiange and the shoulder.

7. The combination with an axle fork, of a conical shell bearing in the upper branch of the fork having a Harige at one end, au adjustable, divided thrust bearing in the lower branch of the fork having internal grooves, a steering wheel ivot mounted in the bearings having a shoulpder engaging the iiange and thrust collars engaging the grooves, and an annular part carried by the pivot surrounding said flange and shoulder and forming a reservoir to supply lubricant to the bearing between the Harige and shoulder. e

8. The combination with an axle fork having a bearing in its upper branch, a recess surrounding the lower end of the bearing, a orrooved bearing in the lower branch of the fork, and a projection on the top of the last named bearing, of a steering wheel pivot mounted in said bearings and provided with thrust collars engaging the grooves in the an annular portion entering the recess in the upper bearing and an annular recess which receives the projection on the lower bearing, and means for adjusting the lower bearing to secure a uniform distribution of the weight upon the bearings.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set Il my hand this twenty-fifth day of May, 1906.

Josnr voLnMER. 

